DECEMBER 24, 1863 - AFFAIR NEAR GERMANTOWN, VA.

Report of Colonel Charles M. Alexander, Second District of Columbia Infantry.

FAIRFAX, VA.,

December 24, 1863.

The 4 mounted vedettes stationed at the junction of the roads near Germantown were taken prisoners this morning, about half past 6 o'clock by 16 mounted guerrillas. One of them escaped, and has since returned to camp. A detachment of cavalry was immediately sent in pursuit.

C. M. ALEXANDER,

Colonel Second Dist. of Colonel Vols., Commanding Division.

Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor,

Chief of Staff, Assistant Adjutant-General.

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DECEMBER 25, 1863 - DESTRUCTION OF CONFEDERATE SALT WORKS ON BEAR INLET, N. C.

Report of Colonel James Jourdan, One hundred and Fifty-eighth New York Infantry, with complimentary orders from Major General John J. Peck, U. S. Army. *

HEADQUARTERS SUB-DISTRICT OF BEAUFORT,
Morehead City, N. C., December 26, 1863.

CAPTAIN: In compliance with instructions of Major-General Peck, I embarked, on the morning of the 24th instant, on board the U. S. gunboats Howquah and Daylight, with 125 men of the One hundred and fifty-eighth New York Volunteers, under command of Lieutenant Colonel W. H. McNary; 75 men of the Ninth Vermont Volunteers, under command of Colonel E. H. Ripley, and 8 men of the Second Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, with one howitzer from Fort Heckman, and proceeded direct to Bear Inlet. One detachment of Mix's (New York) cavalry, under command of Captain Spann, proceeded, by my orders, at 5 a.m. of the 24th instant, up the White Oak River, to within 4 miles of Young's Cross-Roads, making a diversion, in order to draw the attention of the enemy in that direction, while another detachment, under command of Captain Cummings, proceeded to Cedar Point for the same purpose. In consequence of a slight collision with the Daylight in the harbor, the steamer Frazier, by which I intended to land the troops, was unable to accompany me. The damage sustained by the Frazier is reported slight.

On my arrival at Bear Inlet, I proceeded in the Howquah's cutter within the inlet, and reconnoitered, after which the troops disembarked in small boats, with one boat howitzer; effected a landing at an extensive salt-works, about 3 miles from the inlet, where we bivouacked for the night. In consequence of the rapid outflow of the tide, a part of the command were unable to land. Next morning (the 25th), while a portion of my force was employed in destroying the works, I sent two boats belonging to the Howquah to

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* For report of Acting Rear-Admiral S. P. Lee, see Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy, December 5, 1864.